Analyze It raises questions in Secretariat

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Analyze It is living up to his name. That’s not a good thing.

At the end of a race a horse’s mind and body are supposed to be trained, laser-like, on hitting the wire first.

It might take a trip to the psychiatrist’s couch to figure out what’s been percolating in Analyze It’s brain at the end of his last two starts.

He had the Pennine Ridge won in upper stretch as he whizzed past Catholic Boy – until he didn’t. Catholic Boy, put away a furlong earlier, came back and put his nose in front to nip Analyze It, a 1-5 shot.

Once was bad enough, but in the $1.25 million Belmont Derby Invitational the Pennine Ridge played right back. Analyze It took the lead from Catholic Boy in upper stretch; Catholic Boy took it back at the wire.

The good news: There’s no Catholic Boy facing Analyze It in Saturday’s Grade 1, $400,000 Secretariat Stakes. The bad news: We still don’t know what’s up in Analyze It’s head.

“Catholic Boy is an outstanding horse, but I think our horse is waiting on him, too,” said trainer Chad Brown. “He’s just gotten in a habit of waiting on horses a little bit, and it’s come at an inopportune time.”

Brown isn’t making any equipment changes for the 1 1/4-mile Secretariat. Nor, as far as anyone knows, has he sent the colt to a trendy Manhattan shrink. Maybe jockey Jose Ortiz will wait a bit longer to pull the trigger in the Secretariat. And maybe, sans Catholic Boy, there is no one fast enough for Analyze It to wait on.

Bettors generally aren’t likely to overthink things: Analyze It is 2-1 on the morning-line but could easily get hit much harder than that. His three races before the Pennine Ridge produced brilliant wins, and his 3-year-old debut in the Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland was a tour de force.

Or maybe it’s a physical thing, not psychological. Maybe Analyze It, a Point of Entry colt owned by William Lawrence, is more of a miler. We’ll know more late Saturday afternoon. Post time for the Secretariat is 4:48 Central.

The race is European-heavy, with five horses here from overseas to take on eight Americans. Hunting Horn might be the best of them, but the Aidan O’Brien-trained colt, third behind Analyze It in the Belmont Derby, drew very poorly in 13. There have been only 10 such starters, but in 30 years at Arlington no horse has won a 1 1/4-mile turf race from post 13 or 14.

O’Brien has a second entrant, Lucius Tiberius, who has less pedigree and accomplishment than Hunting Horn and might be used as a pacemaker. One horse going to the lead is Real Story, who breaks from post 1 and led all the way winning the American Derby here on July 7. Real Story needs to be in front to settle for his rider.

“If he relaxes, he’ll run well,” said trainer Ignacio Correas.

Untamed Domain’s terribly troubled trip last out in the Kent Stakes at Delaware won’t have escaped the attention of even casual handicappers, but he still could be a fair price Saturday. Untamed Domain, a son of Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom who was second to Mendelssohn last year in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, has a bevy of excuses this year.

“It’s just so disappointing to me,” said trainer Graham Motion, who trained Animal Kingdom. “He works as good as any 3-year-old I’ve had this year.”

Captivating Moon’s trainer, Chris Block, has eyed the Secretariat – especially its 1 1/4-mile distance – for months.

“This has been the goal,” said Block.

O’Brien’ son Joseph has his first American starter outside the Breeders’ Cup with Ming, who has beaten lesser in his last two. There are two other Irish horses in the race, Bandua and the more accomplished Platinum Warrior. Platinum Warrior bashed his head on the gate at the start of the Irish Derby last out, losing his chance.

Completing the field are Sniper Kitten, winner of the Mystic Lake Derby at Canterbury last out; Pont Du Gard, a second Correas-trained starter; New York invader Carrick; and Dubby Dubbie.